“Moving to Atlanta is a way to better embrace the black gospel community,” said Ed Leonard, Chairman of the Board of GMA

The GMA Dove Awards, Christian and gospel music’s equivalent of the Grammy’s, is moving to Atlanta next year after 41 years as an annual Nashville event that attracts thousands of artists and a national TV audience each spring.

Ed Leonard, chairman of the board for the Nashville-based Gospel Music Association, called the move a chance to “shake things up” while continuing to “build community” for the awards show that had long showcased Nashville’s role as a gospel music capital.

“Atlanta is a great place to go. There’s lots of gospel down there. There are a lot of churches down there. It’s another way to expose our music. And my hope is that we’ll be back,” said Leonard, who also is president of Christian label Daywind Records.

“Moving to Atlanta is a way to better embrace the black gospel community,” Leonard said.

The announcement took many Nashville music industry leaders and convention officials by surprise.

“Shock and disappointment” was the terse reaction from Nashville Convention & Visitors Bureau President Butch Spyridon when he learned of the decision Tuesday.

The move by the Doves follows a contract renewal with Atlanta-based GMC, a cable TV channel that has partnered with GMA to broadcast the Dove Awards for the past three years.